Il Christmas in Sweden is highly anticipated, as much as the arrival of Santa Lucia, a true institution of the winter holidays. Sweden is rich in Christmas markets taking place from late November both in the main cities and in their surroundings.
The atmosphere is never lacking when Christmas approaches in Sweden. The winter darkness is illuminated by thousands of advent candle holders placed on windowsills, by sparkling decorations in the streets, and by traditional markets.
Restaurants offer tasty buffets and everywhere you can find “glögg”, the Swedish mulled wine, served with raisins and almonds, a true delight when it’s cold outside. And when the snow arrives, the light becomes truly magical!
Towards the end of November the first Christmas markets open offering all kinds of handcrafted items, candles, and traditional sweets such as “saffransbullar” – saffron buns – and “pepparkakor” – ginger, cinnamon, and clove cookies.
Mercados de Navidad en Estocolmo
Los mercados de Navidad de Estocolmo son numerosos y prósperos; entre los más importantes está sin duda el mercado en la Ciudad Vieja, en la Plaza Stortorget que, a pesar de su pequeño tamaño, ofrece un ambiente particularmente encantador. También en el establo real Hovstallet se monta un bonito mercado de Navidad, caracterizado por los puestos llenos de productos locales, especialmente ropa hecha con piel de oveja y velas artesanales.
También hay espacio para la gastronomía basada en pescado ahumado y dulces típicos. Puestos, tenderetes y luces también en el mercado de Navidad del parque Kungsträdgården y en el museo al aire libre Skansen. Desplazándose un poco fuera de Estocolmo hacia los pueblos vecinos, los mercados de Navidad también tienen lugar en Drottningholm y en la Isla de Sandhamn.
En Estocolmo los mercados de Navidad son numerosos tanto en la ciudad como en sus alrededores. El más conocido se encuentra en la plaza Stortorget en la Ciudad Vieja, especialmente rico en atmósfera cuando la oscuridad cae sobre la ciudad, y está abierto todos los días del 24/11 al 24/12. Es sugestivo el pequeño mercado en el Tivoli de Gröna Lund, la pista de baile se transforma en pista de hielo, y abren atracciones para grandes y pequeños.
Frente a Gröna Lund está Skansen, el museo al aire libre, donde durante los primeros tres fines de semana de diciembre se abre un bazar de estilo antiguo. Además, se celebrarán conciertos en la capilla Seglora. En el parque más céntrico de la ciudad Kungsträdgården hay varios puestos. La asociación del mercado callejero Street organiza en la isla de Södermalm, cerca de la estación de metro Hornstull, un mercado un poco diferente con objetos de diseño y artesanía. Con un día extra de tiempo recomendamos una excursión a la pintoresca Sigtuna, la ciudad más antigua aún existente en Suecia, a 45 minutos en coche al norte de la capital (y a 15 minutos del aeropuerto), toda dedicada a la Navidad.
Las propuestas gastronómicas de los bufés navideños, con todas las especialidades suecas: arenque, salmón, albóndigas con salsa de arándanos rojos, gratín de patatas y anchoas, jamón cocido marinado al horno y servido con mostaza; se pueden saborear en diferentes restaurantes en este período, algunos de los más conocidos son la Veranda del Grand Hotel, värdshuset Ulriksdal junto al castillo Ulriksdal, el restaurante del Ayuntamiento, el Solliden en Skansen, pero también a bordo de barcos.
Cada invierno en Estocolmo se monta una gran pista de patinaje en Kungsträdgården. Quienes no hayan traído patines, siempre pueden alquilarlos en el lugar.
Christmas Markets in Gothenburg
The first Christmas bazaar to open its doors (16/11) is found in Gothenburg inside the wonderful amusement park Liseberg, the largest in Scandinavia. Here you can browse among about eighty stalls selling Christmas items, candles, gastronomic specialties, Swedish crafts, reindeer leather and so on, you can try the ice rink, there are attractions open for children, restaurants where you can eat the Christmas buffet, an ice bar, Christmas music and carols.
The Christmas markets in Gothenburg consist not only of classic decorated stalls but also bazaars, such as the one at Kronhuset, the oldest building in the city.
The most famous Christmas market in Sweden is certainly the one located in the Liseberg park in Gothenburg because of its size and the wonderful lights that accompany its event. There are five million lights shining during the nights up to New Year’s Eve, forming the Avenue of Light.
The wooden houses that extend over about 3.5 km display objects made of reindeer leather, Swedish crafts, candles and lots of typical food even though nothing satisfies visitors more than enjoying something at the ice bar. About forty kilometers from Gothenburg, you can visit another Christmas market at Thorskog Castle, whose decorations immediately transport you to a fairy tale atmosphere.
Christmas celebrations in Gothenburg stretch from Liseberg to the main avenue Avenyn, full of shops and cafes/restaurants, which from December 7 will shine with lights and Christmas trees. Here you will also find a skating rink. In the oldest district Haga there will be 60-70 stalls while about forty in the Nordstan shopping center, open every day from mid-November until the end of December.
Finally, here are the Christmas markets of Malmo, recognizable from afar thanks to the lights around the large Christmas tree located in Gustav Adolfs torg square; right next to it stands the most famous Christmas market in the city, characterized by its red houses.
For only two days, moreover, the manor of Katrinetorp will also host festivities, with lots of ring dances and dancing around the Christmas tree.
Christmas Markets, Malmo
In Malmo, opposite Copenhagen, easily reachable by train from the Danish capital or its airport. The lighting of the tree lights on Gustav Adolfs torg square and various entertainment activities. Throughout December the city will be dressed for the holidays and will offer different Christmas markets such as the one next to Gustav Adolfs torg square where in the red houses you can buy handicrafts in various materials and many Christmas gastronomic specialties, including hot dishes to be enjoyed on the spot.
From 8 to 9/12 a traditional Christmas market full of atmosphere will be held at the Katrinetorp manor, a perfectly preserved nineteenth-century manor in the southern area of Malmö. You can buy handicrafts, gastronomic specialties, antiques; people dance around the fir tree, there will be Christmas choirs and carriage rides pulled by horses – not to be missed is the manor restaurant’s cuisine. The same weekend preparations for Christmas take place at the Koggmuseet, a medieval environment with two replicas of medieval merchant ships (including the largest in the world, not to miss the opportunity to go aboard), with activities for children, entertainment and shows.
Of course, in Malmo there are also skating rinks, including the one on Stortorget square which can be used from November until February.
For those who love shopping, the choice is very wide and interesting in all three cities and for all budgets! Those traveling after Christmas will find the offer even more interesting, thanks to the combination of quality and convenience: sales actually start on December 26 and last until mid-January.
Saint Lucia Festival
The most beloved tradition throughout the country during the pre-Christmas period is the Saint Lucia festival, celebrated on December 13th all over the country in a completely different way than in Italy. At home, at school, at work, a girl is chosen to represent Saint Lucia, dressed in a long white gown with a red sash around her waist, adorned on her head with a crown of candles, decorated with a weave of red cranberry leaves. Throughout the country, parades take place with dozens of girls dressed in white (there are often boys as well) and together they sing Christmas hymns and others dedicated to the return of light.
In Stockholm, everyone can participate in this unusual event at the open-air museum Skansen, where the coronation takes place on 2/12 and where on the 13th at 6 pm Lucia and some of her attendants, after a carriage procession, reach the choir to take part in the traditional concert. There are then concerts in various churches both in the morning and in the evening of the 13th or alternatively in the large Globen arena where 1,200 singers – children and adults – sing together on 15 and 16/12, a very evocative event.
The Saint Lucia of Malmö is crowned on 25/11 and on 13/12 crosses the city by carriage with her procession and everyone then sings from the balcony of the residence of the regional governor at 5:30 pm while in Göteborg the local Lucia is crowned on the evening of the 12th at Liseberg and then participates in the traditional concerts both on the 12th and 13th in the Vasa church. On the 13th you can attend concerts in various churches.
